Feed-regulator for grain-separators.



PATENTED. SEPT. 24, 1907. R. A. LITTLE. FEED REGULATOR POP. GRAIN SEPARATORS.

I APPLIOATION FILED MAY 11, 1905s INVENTUFI foasnffi; y

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. LITTLE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ELMER T. ANSON AND ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES L. ANSON, OF LOOKPORT, NEW YORK.

FEED-REGULATOR FOR GRAIN-SEPARATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24', 1907.

Application filed May 11,1905. Serial No. 259,929.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. LITTLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Regulators for Grain-Separators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in feed regulators for grain separators, its object being to provide a construction whereby the quantity of grain fed to the separator can be accurately regulated and the feed quickly and reliably adjusted to adapt it for handling different classes and sizes of grain.

To these ends my invention consists of a feed mechanism comprising a hopper with an elongated opening and a roller provided with spaced circumferential grooves across its entire length, such roller extending across and below an opening iii the bottom of the hopper.

My invention further consists of individual gates adjustable into and out of the circumferential grooves in the roller, upon one side of the same, and fixed individual gates for permanently closing the circumferential grooves upon the opposite side of the roller.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of my improved feed regulator. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken in the line xx of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section taken in the line y--y of Fig. .1, and Fig. 4 is a detached detail of one of the individual movable gates.

) Referring to the drawings, 1 is the hopper which is mounted upon the housing 2. Just below the longitudinal opening 3 in the hopper 1, is the feed-roller 4, journaled-in the side walls of the housing 2. This roller is provided with spaced circumferential grooves 5, through which the grain to be cleaned is fed to the dirtcrushing rollers 6, 6, mounted in the housing 2, the rest of the grain cleaning mechanism being omitted as unessential to my present invention.

Upon the under cant-board 7, on the right-hand side of the hopper 1, are mounted a series of individual of shank 9 is screw-threaded and upon this end 12 is engaged the adjusting thumb-nut 13, which is employed to raise the gate 8 out of its circumferential groove 5, or adjust its position with relation to such groove.

The guide-plates 14, on each side of the gate 8, are employed to keep the gate in its proper position when being adjusted into and out of its circumferential groove 5.

15 is a spiral spring having its lower end in engagement with the shank 9 of the gate, its upper end resting loosely against the under side of the cleat 11.

Across the lower edge of the opposite cant-board 16 are arranged a series of fixed gates 17, which enter and permanently close the grooves 5, to prevent the contents of the hopper from dropping through on that side of the roller 4.

In operation, the roller 4 is suitably revolved in positive rotation and the contents of the hopper, dropping into the circumferential grooves 5, is gradually fed down through to the rollers 6, 6, for its first treatment. When all of the gates 8 are raised out of their circumferential grooves, the maximum feed is obtained. This feed can be reduced, as desired, by simply closing a portion of the gates. Furthermore, the feed can -be quickly and reliably adjusted to adapt it for handling different classes and sizes of grain, by projecting the gates only part way into their respective circumferential grooves, which will accurately regulate the size of the openings through which the grain is fed. The gates are raised, against the action of the springs 15, by turning the thumb-nuts 13 in positive rotation. The reverse or downward movement of the gates is accomplished by turning the thumb-nuts 13 in negative rotation, which permits the springs 15 to force the gates down as the thumb-nuts are turned.

I claim.

A feed regulator for grain separators comprising a hopper with an elongated opening, a roller provided with opposite side of the roller.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT A. LITTLE.

Witnesses:

, ELMER T. ANsoN,

W. T. MILLER. 

